Former HANO CFO Charged in $900,000 Theft
| U.S. Attorney’s Office August 31, 2009 |
NEW ORLEANS, LA—ELIAS CASTELLANOS, age 43 of Davie, Florida, was charged in a bill of information with theft from the Housing Authority of New Orleans, a program receiving federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the bill of information, from approximately September, 2006 until June, 2009, CASTELLANOS, while employed as the Chief Financial Officer of HANO, embezzled approximately $900,927.00 from HANO.
If convicted of the charged offense, the defendant faces a maximum prison term of ten (10) years and a fine of twice the gain to the defendant, as well as restitution and supervised release of three (3) years.
U.S. Attorney Letten reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the Inspector General’s Office of the United States Department of Housing and Urban and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Coman.